Hair net



E. BERG HAIR NET April 23, 1940.

Filed Nov. 25', 1938 ELAINE BERG Patented Apr. 23, 1940 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 18 Claims.

This invention relates generally to improvements in hair nets, and the primary object of the invention is to provide a hair net having as attached parts thereof means for shielding the ears of the wearer from the heated air encountered when the hair is being dried in the usual hair drier. In beauty shop practice it is the custom to hold the hair in place, after setting or waving, with a hair net and then to dry the hair by the application of heated air, and which operation is carried out by the use of a hair drier including a hood which is lowered over the subject's head and in which heated air is circulated and recirculated around the hair. This operation has been, up to the present time, an exceedingly uncomfortable one since the ears particularly have been subjected to much heat and have in some instances actually been interiorly injured by the heat. My invention aims, therefore, to provide means by which the ears may be protected from the heat, and the wearing of the net otherwise made more comfortable.

Another object is to provide a hair net device of this kind, wherein the net and shields are so connected and arranged that they may be applied as a whole to the head and with no more trouble to the operator than is the present aplication of the net alone. A further object is to provide a novel arrangement of the ear shields by which they may be readily applied to the'net, may be cupped to better fit the ears, and are disposed also to protect the ears and adjacent areas of the head against the discomfort sometimes caused by the tightly stretched elastic which holds the net in place. A further object is to provide ear protecting means of such nature that they may be readily sterilized between periods of use without injury to themselves or the net, and which are exceedingly inexpensive and add but little to the usual cost of nets used for this purpose.

Still a further object is to provide, to further add to the comfort of the wearer of such nets, means whereby the forehead of the wearer may be, protected against the painful pressure of the net elastic, and which means involves the use of a flat binding strip folded over and applied to that portion of the margin of the net which fits across the forehead. Inasmuch as this marginal portion of the net carries the retaining elastic and must be stretched when on the head in order to retain the net in place, it is imperative that the binding strip be applied in such manner that the usual expansion of the net may take place without the formation of wrinkles in the strip or tearing of the net. It follows, therefore, that the binding strip must be applied to the net while it is in a stretched condition, and my invention further includes the method of applying the binding strip which comprises stretching the net until its margin assumes a condition analogous to its condition when actually being worn on the head, applying the strip by an adhesive to the margin of the net while in such stretched condition, and leaving the net in I.

stretched condition until the adhesive has set and the strip is securely fastened. The invention further provides as apparatus for carrying out this method a form over which the net may be stretched and, inasmuch. as it is also of ad- 15 vantage, in applying the ear shields, to have the net relatively stretched or taut adjacent its margin, this form will also serve well as a support for the net while the ear shields are applied,

thus making it possible to complete all operag0 thereon and a binding strip in position for attachment to the net.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged cross sectional detail view showing a margin of the net enclosed by the binding strip.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged perspective view of the net, and attached protective elements, showing the net in the shape it assumes when worn on the head.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged plan view of the blank from which the ear shields are formed.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged vertical cross sectional view of a side portion of the net, showing the position of one ear shield adjacent the ear of the wearer.

Referring now with more particularity to the 5 drawing, A designates the net per se, and B and C the ear protective shields. The net body In is of reticulated material of substantially caplike shape and at its margin is fastened to an elastic or band II which, in use, follows the hair line rather closely and serves to retain the net in place. I For this purpose the elastic is arranged to be stretched rather tautly around the head, as will be understood.

The shields B and 0, according to my'invention, are formed of initially flat members I! and I! made of material having the desired characteristics as to flexibility and resistance to heat, and which is imperforate and of such nature that it may be sterilized, along with the net, in the usual sterilizers without damage. A closely wovenand hard finished fabric has been found best for this purpose, and the members 12 and I3 are cut from the material to the oval, slightly acuminate shape shown, and with their narrower ends connected as indicated at H. In each member a slit I5 is cut from the center of the larger end out radially through the adjacent margin of said larger end, and by drawing the margins ii of the slits into overlapping relation and securing them so by a suitable fastener or adhesive, it will be readily evident that each member may thus be marginally constricted so that it assumes a flat conical shape, indicated in Fig. 6. This operation is carried out with both members and they are, of course, so formed that, when folded at ll, they well nest as clearly shown. The members are then folded to embrace or engage opposite inner and outer surfaces of the net body In at the sides thereof, and the shields are fastened in place by suitable fasteners, sewing or by means of adhesive applied to the inner or adjacent faces of the members I! and i3. The latter is the preferable method from the standpoint of cost.

When so attached the ear shields B and C become actually a part of the net itself, and the net may be placed on the head with no more difficulty than hitherto experienced. However, when in place, the shields are in position to fit over the ears of the wearer and so act to protect the ears against heat while the hair is being dried. The conical or cupped conformation of these shields presents concavities, designated at I! in Figs. 4 and 6, to receive the ears and causes the shields to more completely and effectively cover and protect the ears, as will be readily evident.

The shields B and C are so located on the net that end portions i8, adjacent the connected ends ll, project or depend below the elastic II and this elastic is further enclosed over a portion of its length by inner and outer folds of the shields. This is an important feature in that it provides a cushioning means or pad between the elastic and the lower portion of the ear and adjacent areas of the face, as shown in Fig. 6,

and protects against the otherwise painful pressure of the elastic at these points. The lower ends of the ear shields are also thus drawn more closely around the ears to fully exclude heat and heated air currents from the ears.

To further add to the comfort of the wearer of such nets I provide a forehead protective shield D which is formed of a strip i 9 of material folded lengthwise at over the elastic H and adjacent portions of the net and secured thereto so that the forehead is protected against the pressure of the elastic. The material used may be similar to that of the ear shields B and C, or other suitable kind, and the inner and outer folds 2i and 22 of the strip are preferably, though not necessarily, aflixed by an adhesive to the net, as will be understood. It is imperative, however, that the net be in stretched position, similar to its condition while actually being worn on the head, when this strip I9 is. applied, since otherwise the strip will interfere with proper stretching, will become wrinkled and 'may even cause tearing of the net. For this reason I also provide in this invention a method whereby said net is stretched to a condition similar to that when in use, the strip is applied, and the net left in stretched condition until the adhesive on the strip has set, and by so doing provide that the strip will at all times lie smooth and in condition for use without interference with normal stretching of the net and elastic. V

For practicing the above method I also provide, for purposes of exempliiication, the apparatus shown in Fig. 2 and which comprisu a block or form 23 over which the net may be placed and by which the elastic II will be stretched to the desired extent. The strip II, with the adhesive coated side out, is then placed upwardly behind the elastic, folded medially at II over the elastic, and the folds II and I! pressed flatly together so that they adhere to each other and to the net. The net is then left to set on the form 23 until the adhesive hardens.

The form 23 may be of any suitable shape and size such that, when the elastic II, is placed thereover it will be stretched to the desired extent, and in the embodiment here shown the form is rounded at one end 24 to hold the net body II also out to a stretched condition, and is slightly rounded on one face 25 so that the strip I! will lie in a curvature substantially similar to its position when on the forehead. The net, while in this condition on the form, is also in best shape for application of the ear shields B and C and they may also be applied and allowed to set, so that all operations on the net may be completed at one time. i

It is understood that suitable modifications may be made in the structure as disclosed, provided such modifications come within the spirit and scope of the appended claims. Having now therefore fully illustrated and described my invention, what I claim to be new and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

1. In combination with a hair net adapted to be worn upon the head, a pair of shields aiiixed directly to the sides of the net for covering and protecting the ears of the wearer, the said shields being of imperforate material.

2. In combination with a hair net adapted to be worn upon the head, a pair of shields aihxed directly to and supported from the sides of, the net for covering and protecting the ears of the wearer, the said shields being cupped to present concaved inner sides next to, the ears of the wearer.

3. In combination with a hair net adapted to be worn upon the head, a pair of shields affixed directly to the sides of the net for covering and protecting the ears of the wearer, the said shields being of imperforate and heat resistant material.

4. In combination with a hair net adapted to be worn upon the head, a pair of shields aiflxed directly to the sides of the net for covering and protecting the ears of the wearer, the said shields being made of impervious fabric material of a nature which may be sterilized and cleaned.

5. In combination with a hair net adapted to be worn on the head, a pair of shields of heat resistant material aflixed by adhesive to the sides of the net in position for covering and protecting the ears of the wearer.

6.' In combination with a hair net to be worn on the head, a pair of ear shields attached to the sides of the net in position for covering and protecting the ears, the said shields each including inner and outer members embracing portions of the net therebetween and afflxed directly to the net.

"I. A hair net device comprising a cap-like net adapted to be worn on the head, and ear shields at the sides of the net for covering the wearers ears, the said shields each being formed .of relatively flexible fiat members shaped to fit the ear and placed upon opposite inner and outer surfaces of the net and secured thereto, and the said member being marginally constricted to draw them into cup-like shape for presenting concaved sides to the ears.

8. A hair net device, comprising a cap-like net adapted to be worn over the hair and ears, and ear shields ailixed to the sides of the net for coveringthe ears, each of said shields comprising a pair of flexible flat members connected at one end and folded thereat to fit against opposite inner and outer surfaces of the net, and the said members being secured to intervening portions of the net.

9. A hair net device, comprising a cap-like net adapted to be worn over the hair and ears, and ear shields afiixed to the sides of the net for covering the ears, each of said shields comprising a pair of flexible, initially fiat and substantially oval members connected together at one end and adapted to be folded thereat to embrace opposite inner and outer surfaces of the net and the said members being slit from a central portion out to the margin whereby said slitted margins may be overlapped and secured together to thereby draw the members into fiat conical shape for presenting cupped faces to the ears of the wearer.

10. A hair net device comprising a cap-like net adapted to be worn over the head and ears and including a marginal retractile band adapted to fit around the head and beneath the ears to retain the net in place, a pair of ear shields afflxed to the sides of the net in position for covering and protecting the ears of the wearer, and the said shields having portions extended between the said retractile band and the ears for protecting the ears and adjacent areas of the head from pressure of the band.

11. In combination with a hair net adapted to be worn over the head and ears and including a marginal elastic adapted to fit tightly around the head and beneath the ears for retaining the net in place, a pair of ear shields secured to the sides of the net in position for covering and protecting the ears of the wearer, the said shields including depended portions embracing the elastic and projecting therefrom and adapted to rest between the elastic and the ears and adjacent areas of the head.

12. In combination with a hair net adapted to be worn over the head and ears and including a marginal elastic adapted to fit tightly around the head and beneath the ears for retaining the net in place, a pair of ear shields secured to the sides of the net in position for covering and protecting the ears of the wearer, the said shields each being formed of oval flexible members secured to opposite inner and outer surfaces of the net and having depended portions projecting below the elastic and embracing the same therebetween for protecting the wearer against pressure of the elastic at the ears.

13. In combination with a hair net adapted to be worn over the head and ears and including a marginal elastic adapted to fit tightly around the head and beneath the ears for retaining the net in place, a pair of ear shields secured to the sides of the net in position for covering and protecting the ears of the wearer, the said shields each being formed of oval flexible members connected at their ends and folded thereat to lie against opposite inner and outer surfaces of the net, and the connected ends of the members extending below the elastic and enclosing portions thereof to protect the wearer against pressure of the elastic at and adjacent the ears.

14. In a device of the character described, a pair of ear shields of flexible heat resistant material for positioning over the ears, elastic means for encircling the head and retaining the shields over the ears while entirely exposing the hair for drying purposes, the said shields depending at their ends below the said elastic means and adapted to protect the ears and adjacent areas of the head from pressure of the elastic means.

15. In a device of the character described, a pair of ear shields of flexible heat resistant material for positioning over the ears, elastic means for encircling the head and retaining the shieldsover the ears while entirely exposing the hair for drying purposes, the said shields depending at their ends below the said elastic means and adapted to protect the ears and adjacent areas of the head from pressure of the elastic means, and the said ear shields being formed of initially fiat members embracing the elastic means and which are marginally slit and overlapped to assume a flat conical form and present cupped sides to the ears.

16. In a hair net of the character described, wherein a net of reticulated material has a marginal elastic band, and wherein a strip of material is placed in inclosing relation to a portion of the marginal elastic band to protect the forehead of the wearer from pressure of the elastic band, the portion of the elastic band within the strip of material being stretched and means for securing the strip of material to the stretched portion of the marginal elastic band with the strip of material maintaining said stretched portion of the marginal band in stretched condition.

1'7. In a hair net of the character described, wherein a net of reticulated material has a marginal elastic band, and wherein a strip of material is placed in inclosing relation to a portion of the marginal elastic band, means cooperating with the elastic band and strip of material to prevent stretching activities of that portion of the elastic band inclosed within the strip of material relative to said strip whereby the forehead of the wearer is protected from pressure of the elastic band when the hair net is in use.

18. In a hair net of the character described, wherein a net of reticulated material has a mar: ginal elastic band, and wherein a strip of material is placed in inclosing relation to a portion of the marginal elastic band, means for rigidly securing the inclosed portion of the elastic band to said strip of material to prevent stretching of the elastic band within the strip of material and thereby protect the forehead of the wearer from pressure of the elastic band when the hair net is in use.

manna: BERG. 

